Luberon: Tourist Information on Luberon, What to see in Luberon, Things to do in Luberon, Villages in Luberon

The Luberon is an enormous limestone range that comprises the Parc Régional du Luberon or Luberon National Park. It stretches from Manosque to Cavaillon and is one of the most appealing areas of Provence. This is Peter Mayle country dotted with acres of vineyards and the deligthful villages of Bonnieux, Roussillon and Lacoste - to name but a few. Here are a few additional ideas for what to see and do in and around the Luberon and Vaucluse.

La Tour d'Aigues
Delightful village to the east of Pertuis with a roofless Renaissance chateau that was torched during the Revolution by local peasants. There is a small museum in the cellar displaying local pottery and recounting the history of Aigues. Also of note in Aigues is the Roman church of Notre-Dame-de-Romegas with two apses.

Lourmarin
Lourmarin with its central bell tower is one of the most picturesque villages in Provence and was the resting place of Albert Camus. Its main attraction is the 16th-century chateau where the counts of Agoult resided. Also known as the 'Villa Medicis de Provence' it contains rare furnishings such as an Aztec fireplace and engravings by Piranesi. Camus is also buried in the cemetery in the grounds.

Fontaine-de-Vaucluse
The source of the river Sorgue is the most powerful spring in France and well worth a visit for its paper mill producing hand-made paper and two museums. The first covers the life and work of the poet Petrarch who lived here and the second charts the French Resistance movement of WWII.

Gordes
Gordes is a typical perched village that drops away from its focal point, the 16th-century chateau. The Medieval lanes make for interesting wandering in the summer where you'll be confronted with art tourism, concerts and exhibitions at every turn.

Village des Bories
South of Gordes lies a bizarre phenomenon - primitive dry-stone dwellings built in the shape of a beehive. Used as refuges in times of plague, locals believe they date back to Neolithic times. The 12 bories have now been carefully restored as a rural museum.

Abbaye de Senanque
One of the finest Cistercian monasteries in France lies just 4km north of Gordes and is set against a backdrop of lavender fields and oak trees - the perfect setting for concerts and medieval music during the summer months.

Roussillon
Roussillon is renowned for its distinctive red ochre stone that shimmers from a distance. Enquire about the Sentier des Ochres or Ochre Trail at the local tourist office, a walk which leads you to the stunning ochre formations formed through wind and erosion.

Bonnieux/Lourmarin
One of the larger Luberon villages, Bonnieux looks out over the Petit Luberon and has its own museum 'Musee de la Boulangerie' which recounts the history of bread making in Provence. From here continue south towards the Combe de Lourmarin, an impressive gorge.

Wine tasting
Chateau Val-Joanis in Pertuis (04 90 79 20 77) is a great place to buy red wine made from a high proportion of Syrah whereas Chateau de l'Isolette (04 90 74 56 79) between Bonnieux and Apt is a great place to discover red wines aged in oak barrels along with fine whites and rose.

Aix-en-Provence
No visit to the Luberon would be complete without visiting the elegant bourgeois town of Aix. Founded by the Romans in 103BC it is known as "the city of a thousand fountains" - the most impressive are situated on the Cours Mirabeau which is the main drag where Simone de Beauvoir and other intelligentsia of the time used to hang out (at 'les trois garcons' specifically).

This is the ideal spot for people watching that's if you can drag yourself away from the stunning flower market on Place Hotel de Ville or the city's many museums. You may want to investigate, for example, the Atelier Paul Cezanne where the painter died in 1906 (not much has been altered). You may also want to venture 9 miles east of Aix to the Montagne Ste-Victoire, the mountain which featured in so many of his paintings. This is an ideal spot also for a family pic-nic.

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